The Equestrian Physio

The Equestrian Physio It's time you showed up for them too...

🗓️TEP Training opens doors in Sept.👇

🏋️‍♀️ Rider-specific strength, rehab & performance systems that actually work.
🎓 MScPT | 300+ coached | 200K+ riders strong.
🧡 Your horse shows up every day for you.

This Wednesday evening I'm running a FREE WEBINAR on Why Riders Hurt (Common Injuries & Smarter Rehab), generously spons...
04/27/2026

This Wednesday evening I'm running a FREE WEBINAR on Why Riders Hurt (Common Injuries & Smarter Rehab), generously sponsored by the Adult Rider Fund. Comment REHAB and I'll send you the link! (And yes, there's a replay🫡).

We're covering how injuries occur, the most common patterns we see in adult riders, and how to keep training through rehab without losing months of fitness to complete rest.

Not to mention, this is a conversation that comes up in clinic all the time. You've injured yourself... maybe a sprained ankle, a strained back, a fractured wrist. You go to a reputable physio who diagnoses the injury and recommends a 15-20 week rehab. And you think, 'no way, the doctor said this would be healed in a few weeks!'

And both your doctor and your physio are right.

Initial healing of a bone, tendon, or ligament CAN happen in days to weeks. But building TRULY resilient tissue after an injury takes a lot more than just the initial healing, though.

Think of healing in 3 phases. The first is when everything is swollen, angry, and painful. We call this the inflammatory phase (for obvious reasons).

The second is what most people picture when they think of "healing." This is the proliferation phase, where the body lays down a quick & dirty patch on the injured tissue to get things functioning again (more like a splint).

And most people stop rehab here! But a tissue at the end of the proliferation phase is NOT fully healed. To build something truly robust, we have to take it all the way through the remodeling phase, where the tissue becomes strong, pliable, and able to withstand forces in all kinds of directions.

We can't cheat physiology. Healing, done properly, takes TIME & EFFORT. Reinjury rates are HIGH across most injury types because people don't take their body through the WHOLE process. Slow progression, loading, and management through the entire timeline is what makes the difference. You can absolutely keep riding while you do it, you just have to be smart about how you build back up.

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04/22/2026

If your coach keeps telling you to sit deep but you keep creeping up into a half seat without meaning to, your body might be choosing that position for a reason.
A half seat is kind of a hack. When you perch, there’s space between you and the saddle for the horse’s movement to happen without you having to fully absorb it. Your body doesn’t need as much hip mobility or core and glute strength to manage that position. So if your system doesn’t feel confident it can handle the full demand of sitting, it defaults to hovering. It’s not a conscious choice. It’s your body finding the path of least resistance.

Sitting the trot requires your pelvis to rock and roll with the horse’s back as it swings underneath you. You’re constantly absorbing force through your hips, low back, and core, and recycling that energy back into movement. That takes both the mobility to allow your pelvis to move freely AND the strength to control it so the force doesn’t spill into your upper body.

What the video doesn’t get into is that these two qualities build on each other. Mobility without strength means your pelvis moves but you can’t stabilize it. Strength without mobility means you brace against the movement instead of flowing with it. The riders who sit well have both working together, and that’s something you build off the horse through intentional training.

Sometimes perching is a deliberate choice. On approach to a jump, during a big extended canter, or any time you want to free up the horse’s back. But if perching is your default even when you’re trying to plug in, that’s a signal that your body needs more capacity to handle sitting fully.

The good news is this stuff responds really well to targeted work. Hip mobility drills, core stability under movement, glute strength in ranges that actually mimic what happens in the saddle. It doesn’t take a massive overhaul, but it does take consistency and knowing where to focus.

If you struggle with where to begin, that’s where I come in. TEP Training was built for exactly that. Check out the link in my bio to learn more!

And just like that, session 2 of the webinar series is one week away! Comment STRONGER for the link to sign up, or chec...
04/22/2026

And just like that, session 2 of the webinar series is one week away! Comment STRONGER for the link to sign up, or check out my bio!

Generously sponsored by the OEA adult riders fund, this three part webinar series covers everything from training, to injury, to load management. Join us next Wednesday as we dive into session 2, WHY RIDERS HURT. An in-depth look at common injury patterns among adult riders, the big picture principles for Rehab of both acute and chronic overload issues, as well as diving into your individual cases with an interactive Q&A.

Can’t make it live? No problem! Sign up anyway and you will get the replay the next day.

See you there!

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04/21/2026

Ok, I may have fudged that last bit🥸

But seriously, why is this trend still a thing? I’m all for anything that promotes exercise and strength training among riders. I’ve done the “try this exercise if you struggle with X” posts myself, and loads of people find them SUPER useful.

But we can’t pretend ONE exercise is a panacea. And what these types of posts lack is a large amount of nuance. If you struggle with some performance impairment or persistent pain when riding, there are lots of movement solutions that will likely help. But CONTEXT is key.

Knowing WHY you’re doing an exercise, what it’s aiming to ACCOMPLISH, how to test if it actually accomplishes the desired things, and how to dose, progress and regress it are paramount.

Don’t get sucked into the black hole of hopping from one exercise to the next, without plan or strategy, just because it’s “something you saw on IG”.

FYI … This is more of a thoracic/shoulder mobility exercise, but I’m using it here to help with my own upper back mobility AND as a warm up for overhead press. Nothing is a panacea. Know WHY you’re using something, and ask the critical questions🧡.

And drop a 🤓 in the comments if you’re also tired of the oversimplification posts!

04/19/2026

✨ Ok fam, it's the FINAL DAY to join TEP TRAINING for this round of enrollment!

Comment “SPRING” or check the link in my bio and I’ll send you the details!

Your horse is NOT your gym. 🤷‍♀️

If that stings a little, I'm sorry. But we expect SO much from these animals. They show up for every session, ride, and show with willingness, without choice, and largely without complaint. They'll tolerate us getting ahead, or left behind, flopping around or getting heavy in the hand as we balance off their faces.

And we'll continue to overlook the need to work on ourselves because these quadruped SAINTS continue to put up with us!

Meanwhile every other sport on the planet has figured out that athletes need to train like ATHLETES. For some reason I still don't understand, the equestrian industry continues to holdout.

And that's the piece I have a hard time wrapping my head around! Because time and time again, riders come back to me AMAZED once they actually start putting in the work! They FINALLY realize what they've been missing, and more importantly, what their horse has been putting up with this whole time.

But YOU already know this. You're HERE. You follow this page, you read my stuff. Which tells me you've already made the connection that most riders haven't. You KNOW your body is part of the equation. So what's stopping you from taking the next step?

Because, as corny as it sounds, nothing changes if NOTHING changes. (And yes, you can roll your eyes at me🙄).

One month of TEP Training costs less than a single lesson. Less than a PT session. Probably multiple times less than those sticky breeches or that shoulders-back gadget you think will fix you in the saddle.

And unlike any of those things, this investment ACTUALLY compounds. There is not a single other purchase you could make this year that will pay you back the way investing in your own body will.

The time will pass either way.

If you’re ready to stop circling the same problems and actually build the strength, capacity, and consistency your riding is asking for, I’d love to have you inside.

Doors close TONIGHT. That's it. Curtains until the next enrollment.

Let's make some moves👉

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04/17/2026

YES, I’m exaggerating 😂 but if you watched this and immediately recognized yourself, keep reading.

Aaaannnddd...if this is hitting home, TEP Training is OPEN for enrollment right now through April 19th. This is exactly the kind of thing we work on inside the app. Building the hip strength, control, and awareness to drive your aids from the right place so your horse gets a clear, consistent signal instead of a wobbly squeeze-and-pray.

Comment STRONG for all the details or check out my bio!

When we’re taught to ride, our coaches cue us to “squeeze our legs” to get the horse moving. Fine for a novice, but that cue rarely gets refined as we progress.

Most of us still rely heavily on our hamstrings to pull the lower leg back, our adductors to squeeze at the knee, and our hip flexors to pull the thigh up.

The result of which is an unstable base, lateral trunk collapse (which the horse compensates for), and disjointed pressure through the leg.

To maintain a secure lower leg with consistent pressure through the whole limb, try driving the aid from the HIP, not the knee. Your glute max and glute med should be the main movers, with hamstrings and adductors working primarily for stability.

Think of keeping the front of your hip long and open and squeezing your glute to move your whole leg. You’ll keep your torso more stable, your pelvis softer, and you’ll provide pressure through the entire lower leg instead of just at the knee or the back of the calf.

Give it a try on your next ride and let me know what you think!

And if you want a program that builds the strength to make this feel automatic, comment STRONG or tap the link in bio. Doors close April 19th.

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04/16/2026

You’re allowed to have barriers.

You’re allowed to worry and struggle with the fact that you don’t have access to a gym within 10 miles of your house, or you can’t afford the membership.

You’re allowed to struggle with the fact that with 6 horses to ride today, 3 kids to get to school and a mother in law to take care of that personal time is a precious commodity.

You’re allowed to sit down at the end of the day and have a genuine internal struggle that your KNOW you would benefit from working out, but summoning the “willpower” is like slogging through molasses in January.

Limitations and barriers are real. Ignoring them with bu****it like “we all have the same 24 hours” is not the way.

But at the same time, to quote ‘s podcast, “The prize for fighting for your limitations is you get to keep them”.

Limitations are allowed. The struggle is allowed. What’s NOT allowed is shutting your brain off to the possibility of “what if?”. When dealing with barriers, getting CURIOUS is the real superpower.

“What if I just did one set?”
“What if I just bought some bands or weights and did exercises around the barn? Or in my basement”
“What if I cut my ride by 10 min to fit in a few exercises for myself?”

Instead of saying, “I can’t because…”, get CREATIVE and start brainstorming all the crazy and fantastic ways you COULD! And you might surprise yourself with how much possibility there actually was.

My mums friend Julie and I are planning a four day back country riding trip in the Rocky Mountains this fall. And Julie knew that in order to prep for the hiking and the riding, she needed to get stronger. But she lives in a rural community, and the closest gym is 40 minutes away. So she decided to make the investment. She put 500 bucks into getting some basic exercise equipment, and cleared a 10 x 10 space in her basement, and got to work. Because her health and fitness, and this trip that we have planned, is a priority for her.

It might not be the same for you. But curiosity and creativity are superpowers If you’re struggling with barriers, just taking a moment to switch on your curiosity can make a

04/16/2026

✨ THE DOORS ARE OPEN ✨
👉 Check the link in my bio or comment “PARTNER” to join the TEP Training App before doors close April 19th!

We'll spend THOUSANDS over a horse's lifetime on saddle fit, bodywork, adjustments, supplements, boots, therapies, chiro visits.

And a good chunk of that spending exists because of what we're asking of their body when we sit on them.

I keep coming back to something one of our members said: "I don't want my body to be the thing holding my horse back."

And that is the reason WHY I do this. Because it's the one piece of the welfare conversation we rarely have.

We're so focused on fixing the horse that we forget we're asking them to carry a body we haven't trained to be a fair passenger.

TEP Training is built around the idea that riders are ATHLETES. That our strength, balance, and capacity matter, not just for our own riding goals, but for the horse underneath us.

A stronger, more stable rider means less compensating. Less strain. Less your horse has to make up for.

Spring enrollment is OPEN through April 19th. If you've been circling this and waiting for a sign, comment PARTNER and I'll send you the link.

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04/14/2026

Is it a glitch though? Or is it just part of what it means to be a horse girl? 🤔🤷‍♀️

04/12/2026

DOORS for TEP Training OPEN TOMORROW! 👉Comment "SPRING" or check the link in my bio to drop your name on the waitlist! It takes 10 seconds and could be the key to transforming your performance in the saddle this year.

But I also want you to close your eyes and picture this for a sec... your cantering down a line in the middle of a lesson, and you can't help but feel your FRUSTRATION.

Your hip collapses or your shoulders drop, making your horse chip in a stride or pop their shoulder…

But what if it could be different? Balanced seat. tall upper body. Your trainer actually comments on how connected you look.

And as you notice how far you've come you start to realize, it's not an accident. It’s because YOU'VE put in the work. YOU'VE built the strength, mobility, and control to finally ride the way you’ve always wanted.

That’s the transformation happening for so many others inside the TEP Training App. We're talking solid, evidence based training built into discipline-specific programs that flex with your season and help you make steady, sustainable progress.

Or... you could start back at square one this year, still trying to “ride yourself fit” & still frustrated when the same problems show up (I promise you, your coach is getting a little tired of yelling the same cues lesson after lesson😂).

So are you ready?
✔️You'll FINALLY build the balance to support your horse instead of fighting your own body.
✔️ You'll ACTUALLY stay consistent for once (even in busy seasons) with short, purposeful workouts, a supportive community and habit building prompts as you get going.
✔️ You'll FINALLY stop second-guessing what to do and wondering how workouts actually relate to riding, and start seeing real, LASTING change.

“I had been going to the gym consistently for over a year but always lacked structure and purpose.... This program tells me exactly WHAT I need to do and WHEN, which is what I was missing.”
– Ashleigh N.

“I'm already seeing improvements to my riding. The exercises are just the right level of difficulty, and never take too long....making it easy to stay committed.”
– Jessica T.

👉 Don’t wait. Enrollment opens to early birds TOMORROW!

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04/11/2026

If you're looking to get rolling on your own, TEP Training opens for the spring enrolment on APRIL 13th! Comment "SPRING" or check the link in my bio to put your name down! Waitlist gets priority access to limited spots, plus a FREE copy of my RIDER WARM UP guide if you sign up in the first three days!

If you’ve ever seen me post an exercise and thought, “I could never do that”, whether it’s because you feel too old, too weak, too stiff, too injured, or too far gone, I want you to take a moment and challenge that thought.

Because here’s the thing: humans are ADAPTABLE. No matter how long it’s been, no matter how many surgeries or setbacks you’ve had, your body can REBUILD. You don’t need to start where someone else is. You just need to START where you are.

Instead of dismissing an exercise, ask yourself: what’s the actual movement here? What muscles are being used? What joints are involved? Is it a squat, a hinge, a push, a pull, a mobility drill?

Once you break it down, you can scale it to meet your current capacity. A barbell back squat, for example, is just a squat pattern using your hips, knees, and ankles with load. You can build up to it over time, starting with a sit-to-stand. Add support if you need it, a chair, a dowel, a rope, a TRX. Remove support when you’re ready.

Same goes for riding-specific movements. Mounting from the ground is essentially a big step-up. But we can break that apart! Start with your hip mobility, get used to smaller step heights, then build toward the height of your stirrup with some assistance along the way.

You don’t need to be ready for the “final version” of an exercise to start training. There’s always a way to regress, rebuild, and move forward.

This is one of the most rewarding parts of being a physio for me 🧡. It's knowing how to take something that looks impossible and make it doable. You don’t have to be a powerlifter. You don’t have to be 25. You just have to start.

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Guelph
Guelph, ON
N1C0A1

Website

https://www.theequestrianphysio.ca/tep-training-app-landing-page

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